Shadow45

I was wondering if all of these would grow pretty well in a Natural Planted Tank.
The tanks a 75g and will have around 2wpg, and at least a few hours of sunlight.


Are there any other South American plants that would also work?

Hemianthus callitrichoides
microswords - Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

Red Temple- Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera rosaefolia
Bacopa australis
Egeria densa

Amazon sword - Echinodorus amazonicus
leopard sword - Echinodorus schlueteri
pygmy sword- Echinodorus tenellus
E. angustifolia var vesuvius

I'm planning on using MTS mixed with a little extra plain black dirt, with leaves as a top substrate.

dwalstad

Sounds promising. Is lighting CFL or ordinary fluorescent? Make sure that you've got a photoperiod of 12 hr (or more).

If you've got a few robust Amazon Swordplants (E. bleheri), that's great.

What is MTS? Malaysian Trumpet Snail?

I would include Frog Bit (Limnobium laevigatum). It's from South America. Floating plants like Frog Bit can be a big help in preventing and controlling algae.

Shadow45

The light are odyssea T5 HO
sorry MTS is Mineralized Top Soil.

My plan was to use Mineralized Top Soil as a Substrate, before I found out about NPT's. I already have all the stuff for the MTS and I'm 1/2 through the process, so I'm going to try using the mineralized soil instead of straight soil.

I actually found this site from a post on the Planted Tank fourm, through the MTS post.

Mineralized Top Soil

Im also planning on trying it without capping the dirt with any rock/sand. Just put dry leaves on top, as I am doing a SA Biotope tank and its very leafy. I want a good thick layer of leaves. Im thinking either almond, oak or birch [if its safe, I have lots of birch trees]

I also plan to have Malaysian Trumpet Snail and black worms